02. FY24 CTG NOFO.v7.pdf

FY24 CTG NOFO

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security National Training Program

Continuing Training Grants

All entities wishing to do business with the federal government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). The UEI number is issued by the system. Requesting a UEI using System for Award Management (SAM.gov) can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.

Updates in Grant Application Forms:

The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number was replaced by a new, non-proprietary identifier requested in, and assigned by SAM.gov. This new identifier is the Unique

Entity Identifier.

Additional Information can be found on Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates https://sam.gov/content/entity-%20%20registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-%20%20registration https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-development/planned-uei-updates

Table of Contents

Updates in Grant Application Forms:

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

2. Assistance Listings Number

3. Assistance Listings Title

4. Funding Opportunity Title

5. Funding Opportunity Number

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

7. Appropriation Authority for Program

8. Announcement Type

9. Program Category

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

11. Performance Measures B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO

2. Projected Number of Awards

3. Maximum Award Amount

4. Period of Performance

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s)

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s)

7. Projected Budget Period(s)

8. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

a. Subaward allowability

b. Beneficiaries or Participants

4. Other Eligibility Criteria and Restrictions

National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

5. Maintenance of Effort (MOE)

6. Cost Share or Match

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date

b. Application Submission Deadline

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date

d. Anticipated Award Date

e. Other Key Dates

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

3. Address to Request Application Package

4. Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Register in the System for

Award Management (SAM.gov)

5. Steps Required to Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, Register in the System for Award

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

6. Electronic Delivery

7. How to Register to Apply

a. General Instructions:

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number

d. Create a login.gov account:

8. Applicants will be prompted to submit the standard application information

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

11. Intergovernmental Review

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

a. Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications

Equipment or Services

b. Pre-Award Costs

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

d. Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

b. Financial Integrity Criteria

c. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. DHS Standard Terms and Conditions

b. Ensuring the Protection of Civil Rights

c. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) Compliance

e. Mandatory Disclosures

4. Reporting

a. Financial Reporting Requirements

b. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements

c. Closeout Reporting Requirements

d. Additional Reporting Requirements

5. Monitoring and Oversight

G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information

1. Contact and Resource Information

a. Program Office Contact

b. FEMA Grants News

c. Equal Rights

d. Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation

2. Systems Information

a. FEMA GO

b. FEMA Preparedness Toolkit

H. Additional Information

1. Termination Provisions

a. Noncompliance

b. With the Consent of the Recipient

c. Notification by the Recipient

2. Program Evaluation

3. Period of Performance Extensions

4. Disability Integration

5. Conflicts of Interest in the Administration of Federal Awards or Subawards

6. Procurement Integrity

a. Important Changes to Procurement Standards in 2 C.F.R. Part 200

b. Competition and Conflicts of Interest

c. Supply Schedules and Purchasing Programs

d. Procurement Documentation

e. Waivers

7. Record Retention

a. Record Retention Period

b. Types of Records to Retain

8. Actions to Address Noncompliance

9. Audits

10. Payment Information

11. Whole Community Preparedness

12. Report issues of fraud, waste, abuse

13. Hazard-Resistant Building Codes

14. Appendices

Appendix A – Budget Template

Appendix B – Application Requirements and Focus Area Application Program Requirements

Focus Area: Rural and Tribal Preparedness Training for Equitable Outcomes Appendix C – Review and Scoring Information

Evaluation Criteria Table Scoring Criteria Categories Defined

Technical Merit

Needs Analysis National in Scope Target Audience

Organizational Experience Training Development and Plan

Budget Scoring Criteria Point Values Defined

Appendix D – Application Narrative Format and Content

A. Program Description

1. Issued By

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA)/ Resilience/National Preparedness Directorate (NPD), National Training and Education Division (NTED)

2. Assistance Listings Number

97.005

3. Assistance Listings Title

State and Local Homeland Security National Training Program

4. Funding Opportunity Title

Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) – Continuing Training Grants (CTG)

5. Funding Opportunity Number

DHS-24-NPD-005-00-96

6. Authorizing Authority for Program

Department Of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. N. 118-47), Title III, Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery

7. Appropriation Authority for Program Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. No. 118-47), Title III, Protection, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery

8. Announcement Type

Initial

9. Program Category

Preparedness: Training

10. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities

a. Overview

Through the Continuing Training Grants (CTG) program, the Department of Homeland Security Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Homeland Security National Training Program (HSNTP) plays an important role in the National Preparedness System. The CTG program supports building, sustaining, and delivering core capabilities through the development and delivery of training to achieve the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal), which is “a secure and resilient nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk.”

The Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the FY 2024 DHS Appropriations Act (Pub.

L. No. 118-47) directs Continuing Training Grants to be competitively awarded for FEMA-certified rural and tribal training.

b. Objectives

FEMA recognizes the importance of education and training in rural communities and Tribal

Nations to improve their abilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all hazards.

Given the unique challenges faced by rural communities and Tribal Nations, FEMA supports the development and delivery of training curriculum to specifically support these communities and help them prepare for and respond to all types of disasters.

Training developed and delivered through the FY 2024 CTG Competitive program should:

• Advance FEMA’s strategic priorities by integrating equity as a foundation of emergency management, develop whole of community climate resilience, and strengthen the emergency management workforce.

• Include curriculum offered at the awareness, performance, and management levels to first responders, emergency managers, public officials, and other personnel in underserved, at-risk communities within rural communities and Tribal Nations.

• Address and mitigate current and emerging capability gaps and risks identified by jurisdictions through the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment process, Stakeholder Preparedness Reviews, exercise and real world after-action reports, and other appropriate preparedness data reports.

c. Priorities

Maximize Investments. FEMA, as good stewards of public funds, must ensure CTG investments result in cost-effective training solutions that increase preparedness for the greatest achievable number of rural communities and Tribal Nations within a 36-month period of performance.

Target Gaps. FEMA must ensure CTG investments result in curriculum that addresses needs and gaps through learning that is relevant to student roles and responsibilities, consistent with national and professional standards, with knowledge and performance goals that are measurable.

Advance Equity. FEMA champions equity in emergency management by proactively prioritizing actions that reinforce cultural competency, accessibility, and inclusion, as well as reflect the historical context of specific groups of people. Applicants are strongly encouraged to explore how funded activities can address the needs of underserved, at-risk communities to help ensure consistent and systematic, fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals before, during and after a disaster, consistent with applicable law.

d. Alignment to Program Purpose and the DHS and FEMA Strategic Plan

This NOFO supports several strategic priorities that recipients are expected to support with funded products and activities to the greatest extent possible.

CTG is strategically aligned with DHS’s overarching goals of enhancing national preparedness and resilience. In accordance with the DHS Strategic Plan, CTG’s initiatives contribute to building a secure and ready nation through:

https://www.fema.gov/threat-and-hazard-identification-and-risk-assessment https://www.fema.gov/stakeholder-preparedness-review

• Innovative Training Solutions: Developing and implementing cutting-edge training programs that address the evolving challenges faced by emergency responders.

• Strategic Collaboration: Engaging in partnerships across federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels, as well as with the private sector, to foster a unified approach to disaster preparedness.

• Mission-Centric Education: Delivering comprehensive educational experiences designed to enhance the capabilities of the emergency response community in protecting against, responding to, and recovering from incidents of national significance.

• Resource Optimization: Efficiently aligning resources to support the strategic priorities of preparedness, protection, and response, ensuring the readiness of our nation’s first responders.

Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how their proposed activities will support CTG’s alignment with these key areas of the DHS Strategic Plan, thereby contributing to a more secure and resilient nation.

FEMA Strategic Plan: The 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan positions the agency to respond to a changing landscape in which the emergency management community must embrace its expanding role. To meet this challenge, the Strategic Plan outlines three bold and ambitious goals. The objectives under each goal outline how FEMA will support its workforce, better position communities, and leverage its programs and processes to advance the emergency management field.

• Goal 1 - Instill Equity as a Foundation of Emergency Management

• Goal 2 - Lead Whole of Community in Climate Resilience

• Goal 3 - Promote and Sustain a Ready FEMA and Prepared Nation

CTG partners should address strategic goals and objectives in the 2022-2026 FEMA

Strategic Plan within their submitted statement of work. CTG partners should explain how activities performed under this award will support the Strategic Plan and ensure the goals and objectives outlined in the 2022-2026 FEMA Strategic Plan are incorporated where appropriate into new and existing training curriculum.

The CTG program also supports The DHS Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2020-2024, Goal 5:

Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience, Objective 5.4 Train and Exercise First Responders.

The FY 2024 CTG Focus Area is Rural and Tribal Preparedness for Equitable Outcomes

Refer to Appendix B of this NOFO for specific requirements related to each focus area including standards, intended audience, required training objectives, and other key factors.

The following table displays alignment between the focus areas and the 2022-2026 FEMA

Strategic Plan along with learning solution examples that are appropriate for the FY 2024

CTG program.

https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan https://www.dhs.gov/publication/department-homeland-securitys-strategic-plan-fiscal-years-2020-2024

Focus Area Strategic Goal Objectives Learning Solution Examples

Rural and Tribal

Preparedness for

Equitable Outcomes

Objective 1.3: Achieve equitable outcomes for those we serve

Objective 3.1: Strengthen the emergency management workforce

• Online Training

• In-person instructor-led training

• Synchronous, virtual instructor-led training

• Asynchronous, virtual instructor-led training

• Facilitated workshops and seminars

11. Performance Measures

The New World Kirkpatrick Model is applied for analyzing and evaluating the results of training and educational programs. This model considers any style of training, both informal and formal, to assess learning.

FEMA applies the New World Kirkpatrick Model for the FY 2024 CTG program as follows:

Level 1: a student’s assessment of the training setting, material, and instruction; this is evaluated through surveys administered during or directly following curriculum delivery and uses numerical (e.g., Likert Scale) and narrative responses. Results are reported to the FEMA NTED Training Partners Program Branch and assessed to measure experiences compared with standards and expectations.

Level 2: a comparison of pre-course knowledge and skills with post-course knowledge and skills; this is evaluated through testing administered during or directly following curriculum delivery. Results are reported to the FEMA NTED Training Partners Program

Branch and assessed to measure knowledge transfer compared with an established standard of a twenty-six-point increase.

Level 3: an assessment of learning applicability at the home organization or jurisdiction;

this is evaluated through surveys administered following curriculum delivery, typically between 90 and 180 days after training, and uses a numerical (e.g., Likert Scale) and narrative responses. Results are reported to the FEMA NTED Training Partners Program

Branch and assessed to measure training impact on a student’s organization or jurisdiction.

https://www.kirkpatrickpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Introduction-to-the-Kirkpatrick-New-World-Model.pdf

FEMA’s First Responder Training System (FRTS) includes the Registration and

Evaluation System (RES). The RES is used to collect New World Kirkpatrick Model evaluation data.

a. THIRA/SPR: States, territories, major urban areas, and tribes that receive homeland security grants provide annual data on their proficiency across 32 core capabilities through the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA), Stakeholder Preparedness Reviews (SPR), exercise and real-world after-action reports, and other preparedness data. This data feeds into the National Preparedness

Report (NPR), which summarizes progress made, and challenges that remain, in building and sustaining the capabilities needed to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats, hazards, and incidents that pose the greatest risk to the nation. The THIRA/SPR assessments and the NPR are mandated by the

Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 and Presidential Policy

Directive 8, and also help fulfill obligations outlined in the Disaster Recovery Reform

Act of 2018.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Funding for the NOFO: $5,400,000

2. Projected Number of Awards: 1-2 (estimated)

3. Maximum Award Amount: $5,400,000

4. Period of Performance: 36 months

Extensions to the period of performance are allowed. For additional information on period of performance extensions, please refer to Section H of this NOFO.

5. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s): 09/01/2024

6. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s): 08/31/2027

7. Projected Budget Period(s)

There will be only a single budget period with the same start and end dates as the period of performance.

8. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

The CTG program, prescribed by this NOFO, is awarded through a separate cooperative agreement, as defined by, and consistent with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement

Act of 1977 (Pub. L. No. 95-244, 31 U.S.C. §§ 6301-6308). FEMA maintains substantial involvement with the recipient as it carries out activities under the award to include financial monitoring and all training development and delivery activities, including the creation and approval of course content, arrangement of learning objectives, establishment of training delivery modes and methods, and use of the Kirkpatrick evaluation model. NTED Training https://www.kirkpatrickpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Introduction-to-the-Kirkpatrick-New-World-Model.pdf https://www.fema.gov/threat-and-hazard-identification-and-risk-assessment https://www.fema.gov/stakeholder-preparedness-review https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_2020-national-preparedness-report.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_2020-national-preparedness-report.pdf https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-policies/federal-grant-cooperative-agreement-act-1977.html#:~:text=Federal%20Grant%20and%20Cooperative%20Agreement%20Act%20%281977%29%20The,by%20distinguishing%20between%20contracts%2C%20cooperative%20agreements%20and%20grants.

https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-policies/federal-grant-cooperative-agreement-act-1977.html#:~:text=Federal%20Grant%20and%20Cooperative%20Agreement%20Act%20%281977%29%20The,by%20distinguishing%20between%20contracts%2C%20cooperative%20agreements%20and%20grants.

Partners Program (TPP) managers serve as the authority to provide approval and disapproval for all activities over the life cycle of the award.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

• State governments, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territory governments

• City or township governments

• County governments

• Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments (Tribal governments)

• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) status

• Nonprofit private institutions of higher education

• Nonprofit national associations and organizations

• Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Eligible organizations that do not have suitable expertise in developing and delivering training are ineligible.

3. Subawards and Beneficiaries

a. Subaward allowability

Subawards are not allowed under this Funding Opportunity.

b. Beneficiaries or Participants

This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any participant or beneficiary.

4. Other Eligibility Criteria and Restrictions

National Incident Management System (NIMS) Implementation

Prior to allocation of any federal preparedness awards, recipients must ensure and maintain adoption and implementation of NIMS. The list of objectives used for progress and achievement reporting is on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training.

Emergency management and incident response activities require carefully managed resources

(personnel, teams, facilities, equipment, and/or supplies) to meet incident needs. Utilization of the standardized resource management concepts such as typing, credentialing, and inventorying, promote a strong national mutual aid capability needed to support delivery of core capabilities. Additional information on resource management, NIMS resource typing definitions, job titles, and position qualifications is on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components.

FEMA developed the National Incident Management System Guideline for the National

Qualification System to describe national credentialing standards and to provide written guidance regarding the use of those standards. This guideline describes credentialing and typing processes and identifies tools that Federal Emergency Response Officials and https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/implementation-training https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components/nqs-supplemental-documents https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims/components/nqs-supplemental-documents emergency managers at all levels of government may use both routinely and to facilitate multijurisdictional coordinated responses.

Although state (including territorial), local, tribal, and private sector partners (including nongovernmental organizations) are not required to credential their personnel in accordance with these guidelines, FEMA strongly encourages them to do so to leverage the federal investment in the Federal Information Processing Standards 201 infrastructure and to facilitate interoperability for personnel deployed outside their home jurisdiction.

Additional information about NIMS in general is available on FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims.

5. Maintenance of Effort (MOE)

There is no Maintenance of Effort requirement for this program.

6. Cost Share or Match

There is no cost share or match requirement for this program.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Key Dates and Times

a. Application Start Date: 7/8/2024

b. Application Submission Deadline: 8/16/2024, 11:59 ET

All applications must be received by the established deadline.

FEMA’s Grants Outcomes System (FEMA GO) automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the application. The individual with the Authorized Organization

Representative role that submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission. For additional information on how an applicant will be notified of application receipt, see the subsection titled “Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely

Submission” in Section D of this NOFO.

FEMA will not review applications that are received after the deadline or consider these late applications for funding. FEMA may, however, extend the application deadline on request for any applicant who can demonstrate that good cause exists to justify extending the deadline. Good cause for an extension may include technical problems outside of the applicant’s control that prevent submission of the application by the deadline, other exigent or emergency circumstances, or statutory requirements for FEMA to make an award.

Applicants experiencing technical problems outside of their control must notify FEMA as soon as possible and before the application deadline. Failure to timely notify FEMA of the issue that prevented the timely filing of the application may preclude consideration of the https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims award. “Timely notification” of FEMA means the following: prior to the application deadline and within 48 hours after the applicant became aware of the issue.

A list of FEMA contacts can be found in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding Agency

Contact Information.” For technical assistance with the FEMA GO system, please contact the

FEMA GO Helpdesk at femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 611-4700, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). For programmatic or grants management questions, please contact your Program Analyst or Grants Management Specialist. If applicants do not know who to contact or if there are programmatic questions or concerns, please contact the

Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) by phone at (800) 368-6498 or by e-mail at fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov,Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET.

c. Anticipated Funding Selection Date: No later than 09/01/2024

d. Anticipated Award Date No later than 09/01/2024

e. Other Key Dates

2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award

By submitting an application, applicants agree to comply with the requirements of this

NOFO and the terms and conditions of the award, should they receive an award.

3. Address to Request Application Package

Applications are processed through the FEMA GO system. To access the system, go to https://go.fema.gov/.

Hard copies of the NOFO can be downloaded at Grants.gov or obtained via email from the

Awarding Office points of contact listed in Section G of this NOFO, “DHS Awarding

Agency Contact Information” or by TTY (800) 462-7585.

4. Requirements: Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and Register in the System for

Award Management (SAM.gov)

Each applicant, unless they have a valid exception under 2 CFR §25.110, must:

Event Suggested Deadline for Completion

Obtaining Unique Entity Identifier

(UEI) number

Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Obtaining a valid Employer

Identification Number (EIN) Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Creating an account with login.gov Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Registering in SAM or updating SAM registration Four weeks before actual submission deadline

Registering Organization in FEMA

GO

Prior to beginning application

Submitting complete application in

FEMA GO

One week before actual submission deadline mailto:femago@fema.dhs.gov mailto:at%20fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov https://go.fema.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://sam.gov/content/home

a. Be registered in Sam.Gov before application submission.

b. Provide a valid UEI in its application.

c. Continue to always maintain an active SAM registration with current information during the federal award process. Note: Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.300, subrecipients are NOT required to go through the full SAM registration process. First-tier subrecipients

(meaning entities receiving funds directly from the recipient) are only required to obtain a UEI through SAM, but they are not required to complete the full SAM registration in order to obtain a UEI. Recipients may not make subawards unless the subrecipient has obtained and provided the UEI.

Lower-tier subrecipients (meaning entities receiving funds passed through by a higher-tier subrecipient) are not required to have a UEI and are not required to register in SAM.

Applicants are also not permitted to require subrecipients to complete a full registration in

SAM beyond obtaining the UEI.

5. Steps Required to Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, Register in the System for Award

Management (SAM), and Submit an Application

Applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Applicants are encouraged to register early as the registration process can take four weeks or more to complete. Therefore, registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines.

Please review the table above for estimated deadlines to complete each of the steps listed.

Failure of an applicant to comply with any of the required steps before the deadline for submitting an application may disqualify that application from funding.

To apply for an award under this program, all applicants must:

a. Apply for, update, or verify their UEI number and Employer Identification Number

(EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service;

b. In the application, provide an UEI number;

c. Have an account with login.gov;

d. Register for, update, or verify their SAM account and ensure the account is active before submitting the application;

e. Register in FEMA GO, add the organization to the system, and establish the AOR.

The organization’s electronic business point of contact (EBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607;

f. Submit the complete application in FEMA GO; and

g. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency. As part of this, applicants must also provide information on an applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner and subsidiaries, as well as on all predecessors that have been awarded federal contracts or federal financial assistance within the last three years, if applicable.

https://www.login.gov/ https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607

Applicants are advised that FEMA may not make a federal award until the applicant has complied with all applicable SAM requirements. Therefore, an applicant’s SAM registration must be active not only at the time of application, but also during the application review period and when FEMA is ready to make a federal award. Further, as noted above, an applicant’s or recipient’s SAM registration must remain active for the duration of an active federal award. If an applicant’s SAM registration is expired at the time of application, expires during application review, or expires any other time before award, FEMA may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a federal award to another applicant.

Per 2 C.F.R. § 25.110(c)(2)(iii), if an applicant is experiencing exigent circumstances that prevents it from obtaining an UEI number and completing SAM registration prior to receiving a federal award, the applicant must notify FEMA as soon as possible by contacting askcsid@fema.dhs.gov and providing the details of the circumstances that prevent completion of these requirements. If FEMA determines that there are exigent circumstances and FEMA has decided to make an award, the applicant will be required to obtain an UEI number, if applicable, and complete SAM registration within 30 days of the federal award date.

6. Electronic Delivery

DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. DHS encourages or requires applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov, depending on the funding opportunity.

For this funding opportunity, FEMA requires applicants to submit applications through

FEMA GO.

7. How to Register to Apply

a. General Instructions:

Registering and applying for an award under this program is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Read the instructions below about registering to apply for

FEMA funds. Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process.

Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete. To ensure an application meets the deadline, applicants are advised to start the required steps well in advance of their submission.

Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number, Employer

Identification Number (EIN), and an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration.

mailto:askcsid@fema.dhs.gov

b. Obtain an UEI Number:

All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a UEI number. Applicants must enter the UEI number in the applicable data entry field on the SF-424 form.

For more detailed instructions for obtaining a UEI number, refer to: SAM.gov.

c. Obtain Employer Identification Number

All entities applying for funding must provide an Employer Identification Number

(EIN). The EIN can be obtained from the IRS by visiting:

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online.

d. Create a login.gov account:

Applicants must have a login.gov account in order to register with SAM or update their SAM registration. Applicants can create a login.gov account here:

https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3.

Applicants only have to create a login.gov account once. For applicants that are existing SAM users, use the same email address for the login.gov account as with

SAM.gov so that the two accounts can be linked.

For more information on the login.gov requirements for SAM registration, refer to:

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf.

I. ADDITIONAL SAM REMINDERS

Existing SAM.gov account holders should check their account to make sure it is

“ACTIVE.” SAM registration should be completed at the very beginning of the application period and should be renewed annually to avoid being “INACTIVE.”

Please allow plenty of time before the grant application submission deadline to obtain an UEI number and then to register in SAM. It may be four weeks or more after an applicant submits the SAM registration before the registration is active in SAM, and then it may be an additional 24 hours before FEMA’s system recognizes the information.

It is imperative that the information applicants provide is correct and current.

Please ensure that your organization’s name, address, and EIN are up to date in

SAM and that the UEI number used in SAM is the same one used to apply for all other FEMA awards. Payment under any FEMA award is contingent on the recipient’s having a current SAM registration.

II. HELP WITH SAM

The SAM quick start guide for new recipient registration and SAM video tutorial for new applicants are tools created by the General Services Administration

(GSA) to assist those registering with SAM. If applicants have questions or file:///C:/Users/rsalsbur/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/3T14KI4A/sam.gov https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3 https://secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email?request_id=34f19fa8-14a2-438c-8323-a62b99571fd3 https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/loginFAQ.jsf concerns about a SAM registration, please contact the Federal Support Desk at https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do or call toll free (866) 606-8220.

e. Register in FEMA GO

Add the Organization to the System, and Establish the AOR:

Applicants must register in FEMA GO and add their organization to the system. The organization’s electronic business point of contact (EBiz POC) from the SAM registration may need to be involved in this step. For step-by-step instructions, see https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607.

Note: FEMA GO will support only the most recent major release of the following browsers:

• Google Chrome

• Internet Explorer

• Mozilla Firefox

• Apple Safari

• Microsoft Edge

Users who attempt to use tablet type devices or other browsers may encounter issues with using FEMA GO.

8. Applicants will be prompted to submit the standard application information and any program-specific information required as described in Section D.10 of this NOFO, “Content and Form of Application Submission.” The Standard Forms (SF) may be accessed in the

Forms tab under the SF-424 family on Grants.gov. Applicants should review these forms before applying to ensure they have all the information required.

After submitting the final application, FEMA GO will provide either an error message or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the AOR that submitted the application. Applicants using slow internet connections, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some time before FEMA GO receives your application.

For additional application submission requirements, including program-specific requirements, please refer to the subsection titled “Content and Form of Application

Submission” under Section D of this NOFO.

9. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

All applications must be completed in FEMA GO by the application deadline. FEMA GO automatically records proof of timely submission and the system generates an electronic date/time stamp when FEMA GO successfully receives the application. The individual with the AOR role that submitted the application will also receive the official date/time stamp and a FEMA GO tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission on the date and time that FEMA GO received the application.

Applicants who experience system-related issues will be addressed until 3:00 PM ET on the date applications are due. No new system-related issues will be addressed after this https://www.fsd.gov/fsd-gov/home.do https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/181607 https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html deadline. Applications not received by the application submission deadline will not be accepted.

10. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Standard Required Application Forms and Information

The following forms or information are required to be submitted via FEMA GO.

The Standard Forms (SF) are also available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

• SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

• Grants.gov Lobbying Form, Certification Regarding Lobbying

• SF-424A, Budget Information (Non-Construction)

• SF-424B, Standard Assurances (Non-Construction)

• SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

b. Program-Specific Required Forms and Information

Refer to Appendix B of this NOFO for additional information on program – specific application content requirements.

11. Intergovernmental Review

An intergovernmental review may be required. Applicants must contact their state’s Single

Point of Contact (SPOC) to comply with the state’s process under Executive Order 12372

(See https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html;

Intergovernmental Review (SPOC List) (whitehouse.gov)

12. Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

All costs charged to federal awards (including both federal funding and any non-federal matching or cost sharing funds) must comply with applicable statutes, rules and regulations, and policies, this NOFO, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. They must also comply with the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit

Requirements at 2 C.F.R. Part 200 unless otherwise indicated in the NOFO or the terms and conditions of the federal award. This includes, among other requirements, that costs must be incurred, and products and services must be delivered within the budget period. 2 C.F.R. §

200.403(h). The following identifies a list of activities for which a recipient may not use federal funds and any cost sharing or matching funds under federal awards:

• Matching or cost sharing requirements for other federal grants and cooperative agreements (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.306)

• Lobbying or other prohibited activities under 18 U.S.C. § 1913 or 2 C.F.R. § 200.450

• Prosecuting claims against the federal government or any other government entity

(see 2 C.F.R. § 200.435) See subsections below for information on any other funding restrictions.

a. Prohibitions on Expending FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications

Equipment or Services

Recipients, subrecipients, and their contractors must comply with the prohibitions set forth in Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for

Fiscal Year 2019, Pub. L. No. 115-232 (2018) (FY 2019 NDAA) and 2 C.F.R. §§ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-15483/pdf/COMPS-15483.pdf

200.216, 200.327, 200.471, and Appendix II to 2 C.F.R. Part 200. The FY 2019

NDAA and these regulations, as they apply to recipients, subrecipients, and their contractors and subcontractors, provide for two distinct prohibitions: (1) prevent the use of federal award funds to procure or obtain covered telecommunications equipment or services; and (2) prevent the use of federal award funds to contract with an entity that uses such covered telecommunications equipment or services.

Guidance is available at FEMA Policy #405-143-1 - Prohibitions on Expending

FEMA Award Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services

Additional guidance is available at Contract Provisions Guide: Navigating Appendix

II to Part 200 - Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal

Awards (fema.gov).

FEMA recipients and subrecipients may not use any FEMA funds under open or new awards to:

• Procure or obtain any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology of any system;

• Enter into, extend, or renew a contract to procure or obtain any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology of any system; or

• Enter into, extend, or renew contracts with entities that use covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system.

I. DEFINITIONS

Per section 889(f)(2)-(3) of the FY 2019 NDAA and 2 C.F.R. § 200.216, covered telecommunications equipment or services means:

i. Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies

Company or ZTE Corporation, (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

ii. For the purpose of public safety, security of Government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision

Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

iii. Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment; or

iv. Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the People’s Republic of China.

https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy-405-143-1-prohibition-covered-services-equipment-gpd.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_6-14-2021.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_6-14-2021.pdf https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_contract-provisions-guide_6-14-2021.pdf

Examples of the types of products covered by this prohibition include phones, internet, video surveillance, and cloud servers when produced, provided, or used by the entities listed in the definition of “covered telecommunications equipment or services.” See 2 C.F.R. § 200.471.

b. Pre-Award Costs

Pre-award costs are allowable only with the prior written approval of DHS/FEMA and if they are included in the award agreement. To request pre-award costs a written request must be included with the application, signed by the Authorized

Representative of the entity. The letter must outline what the pre-award costs are for, including a detailed budget breakout of pre-award costs from the post-award costs, and a justification for approval.

c. Management and Administration (M&A) Costs

Management and Administration costs are activities directly related to managing and administering the award, such as financial management and monitoring. M&A costs are not operational costs. They are the necessary costs incurred in direct support of the grant or as a consequence of the grant and should be allocated across the entire lifecycle of the grant. Recipients may use up to five percent (5%) of the amount of the award for their M&A.

d. Indirect Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Costs

Indirect (F&A) costs (IDC) means those costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted, without effort disproportionate to the results achieved. IDC are allowable by the recipient [and subrecipients] as described in 2

C.F.R. Part 200, including 2 C.F.R. § 200.414. Applicants with a current negotiated

IDC rate agreement who desire to charge indirect costs to a federal award must provide a copy of their IDC rate agreement with their applications. Not all applicants are required to have a current negotiated IDC rate agreement. Applicants that are not required to have a negotiated IDC rate agreement but are required to develop an IDC rate proposal must provide a copy of their proposal with their applications. Applicants who do not have a current negotiated IDC rate agreement (including a provisional rate) and wish to charge the de minimis rate must reach out to FEMA for further instructions. Applicants who wish to use a cost allocation plan in lieu of an IDC rate proposal must reach out to the FEMA Point of Contact for further instructions. As it relates to the IDC for subrecipients, a recipient must follow the requirements of 2

C.F.R. §§ 200.332 and 200.414 in approving the IDC rate for subawards.

E. Application Review Information

1. Application Evaluation Criteria

a. Programmatic Criteria

Prior to making a Federal award, DHS/FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. § 3321 note, 41 U.S.C. § 2313 and 2 C.F.R. § 200.205 to review information available through any

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) designated repositories of government wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information. Therefore, application evaluation criteria may include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant: 1) Financial stability. 2) Quality of management systems and ability to meet management standards. 3) History of performance in managing Federal award.

4) Reports and findings from audits. 5) Ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

b. Financial Integrity Criteria

Prior to making a federal award, FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. § 3354, as enacted by the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019, Pub. L. No. 116-117 (2020); 41

U.S.C. § 2313; and 2 C.F.R. § 200.206 to review information available through any

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-designated repositories of governmentwide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information, including whether SAM.gov identifies the applicant as being excluded from receiving federal awards or is flagged for any integrity record submission. FEMA may also pose additional questions to the applicant to aid in conducting the pre-award risk review.

Therefore, application evaluation criteria may include the following risk-based considerations of the applicant:

i. Financial stability.

ii. Quality of management systems and ability to meet management standards.

iii. History of performance in managing federal award.

iv. Reports and findings from audits.

v. Ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

c. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review

Prior to making a federal award where the anticipated total federal share will be greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, currently $250,000:

i. FEMA is required by 41 U.S.C. § 2313 and 2 C.F.R. § 200.206(a)(2) to review and consider any information about the applicant, including information on the applicant’s immediate and highest-level owner, subsidiaries, and predecessors, if applicable, that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through the System for

Award Management (SAM), which is currently the Federal Awardee

Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS).

ii. An applicant, at its option, may review information in FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously entered.

iii. FEMA will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.206.

https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/#/home https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/#/home

Federal Award Administration Information

1. Notice of Award

Before accepting the award, the AOR and recipient should carefully read the award package.

The award package includes instructions on administering the grant award and the terms and conditions associated with responsibilities under federal awards. Recipients must accept all conditions in this NOFO.

FEMA will provide the federal award package to the applicant electronically via FEMA GO.

Award packages include an Award Letter, Summary Award Memo, Agreement Articles, and

Obligating Document. An email notification of the award package will be sent through

FEMA’s grant application system to the AOR that submitted the application.

Recipients must accept their awards no later than September 30, 2024.